What is The Value of a Representative?
If you have to deal with a tax agency, it
is important to have an experienced professional on your side who knows
the tax collection and audit processes and what is likely to occur at
each stage. The prospect of incurring additional taxes, penalties and
interest can be upsetting and stressful. The audit process itself can
even seem threatening. Equally important is the representative's role as a buffer between the taxpayer and the taxing authority. Collection Problems I
help taxpayers who owe more taxes than they are able to pay get their
problem under control. That usually means establishing a payment plan.
In some cases it means demonstrating that a taxpayer is able to pay
only part of what they owe or even that they are unable to pay anything.
This is what the IRS calls "resolving" a case. Delinquent Tax Returns Before
the IRS can reach a resolution a taxpayer must be "in compliance." That
means that all returns must be filed so the the IRS knows the total
taxes owed. Audits I
have been dealing with IRS and state tax audits for over 25 years and
know that in most cases it is not a good idea for taxpayers to
represent themselves. This is especially true when businesses have been
part of the audits. My
view is not a reflection on the taxpayers' innate capabilities to learn
and understand complex or new situations or the quality of their
records. It is knowing the unique rules, processes and culture of the
IRS. Someone who has not encountered those circumstances can find it
difficult to know what to expect at every stage of their case. Frankly
there will be surprises that even an experienced representative may not
always be able to anticipate. |